Resistor mounting brackets



M y 1953 R. w. PATTERSON 2,835,465

RESISTOR MOUNTING BRACKETS Filed Dec. 1, 1953 F1 3 1] j o R o 33 \v 32 I'1|/o, Ill I 34 24 3-5 23 J Rogerwpallerson V /A INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent RESISTOR MOUNTING BRACKETS Roger W. Patterson, Rochester, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Application December 1, 1953, Serial No. 395,629 1 Claim. Cl. 248-201) This invention relates to mounting devices and more particularly to devices for mounting tubular power resistors.

As is well known by those skilled in the art, prior art tubular resistor mounting devices have been of two general types, the first type comprising two formed sheet metal parts, one insertable into each end of the resistor, and the second comprising two right angle brackets with a bolt between them running through the center hole of the resistor. Neither of these prior art devices forms a satisfactory means of mounting tubular resistors for the reason that the resistor is not securely restrained from turning under vibration and consequently there is a possibility that the terminal soldering lugs may ground or short-circuit against adjacent parts. Precautions such as, for example, the providing of special insulation may be taken. However, this solution is not entirely satisfactory for the reason that it involves added time and expense to install and that there is the possibility of its inadequacy or failure.

In the present invention, two mounting members or brackets are utilized, each member having a coil spring portion for insertionin the ends of the tubular resistor. The coils of each spring portion circumferentially engage the inner cylindrical wall of the resistor and prevent it from turning about its longitudinal axis as hereinafter more fully described. Thus my invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, and provides an etficient stationary mount for tubular resistors.

The primary object of the present invention is, there fore, to provide a tubular resistor mounting device which eliminates the possibility of the resistor terminals grounding or causing short circuits with adjacent parts as a result of rotation of the resistor.

Another object is to provide a mounting device for a hollow tubular member which will prevent the member from rotating about its longitudinal axis.

Another object is to provide a hollow tubular member mounting device having portions for preventing the surface attaching means from loosening.

Another object is to provide a tubular resistor mountr ing device which is inexpensive to manufacture, easily installed, and which will thereafter securely support the resistor in position.

Still further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description with reference to the drawing in which like characters denote like parts and wherein:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of my invention prior to positioning within the resistor.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation view partly in section illustrating the assembled relation of the parts; and

Fig. 3 is a front elevation view partly in section illus trating another embodiment of my invention.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention. In Fig. 2 I have shown resistor R in cross section to more clearly illustrate the parts in assembled 2,835,465 Patented May 20, 1958 relation. Tubular resistor R is provided with a cylindrical bore 10 and terminal soldering lugs 11 adjacent its ends and projecting radially outwardly from the surface of the resistor as is common in the art. My mounting device comprises two similar mounting members or brackets 20 made of a resilient spring material. Each member 20 consists of a resilient helical spring portion 21 and a leg portion 22. Spring portion 21 is made in the form of a helical spring having an outside diameter slightly larger than the diameter of cylindrical bore 10 into which it is to be inserted. Leg portion 22 which depends from spring portion 21 is formed with a resilient helical loop 23 which acts as a locking means for mounting screws 24 and 25 when tightened on mount plate 26. Screw 25 is shown only partially tightened to more clearly illustrate the helical loop 23 on the leg portion 22 of the member 20 on the right side of Fig. 2. I have used the break marks at 27 merely to enable me to illustrate this feature of my invention. The portions between the loop 23 and the spring portion 21 may be formed in any desired shape to fit the requirements of any particular installation. However, I have found that the shape illustrated'is convenient and makes screws 24 and 25 readily accessible for tightening.

In assembling the members 20 in the resistor R, the spring portion 21 is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of the spring coils and at the same time spring portion 21 is pushed into the cylindrical bore 10. By thus rotating the spring portion 21, the outer diameter of the coil is decreased and it may be readily inserted in the cylindrical bore 10. Rotation of the portion 21 in the opposite direction is impossible because the coil tends to unwind, the outer diameter tends to increase, and it thereby more firmly grips the wall of the cylindrical bore 10. Of course, the same result obtains if the resistor R prohibited.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, resistor R is again shown in cross section to more clearly illustrate the parts in assembled relation. In this embodiment a mounting member or bracket 30 made of resilient spring material, having spring portion 31 and a leg portion 32, replaces one of the members 20 used in the preferred em bodiment. The coils of spring portion 31 are wound in a direction opposite to the direction of the coils of spring portion 21 on member 20, but the outside diameter of spring portions 21 and 31 are the same and are slightly larger than the diameter of cylindrical bore 10 of resistor R. Between leg portions 32 and spring portion 31 I provide a medial portion 33 which lies approximately along the longitudinal axis of the spring portion 31. Leg portion 32 is formed with a resilient helical loop 34 similar to loop 23 of member 20.

In assembling this embodiment of my invention, member 30 is inserted in the cylindrical bore 10 of resistor R for a substantial distance as shown, by rotating the member 30 in a direction opposite to the direction of the coil of spring portion 31 and at the same time pushing the spring portion 31 into the cylindrical bore 10. Next member 20 is inserted into the same end of cylindrical bore 10 of resistor R in the same manner as was described in relation to member 20 of Fig. 2, being careful to pass the leg portion 32 and medial portion 33 of member 30 through spring portion 21 of member 20. The members 30 and 20 and resistor may then be fas tened to the mounting plate 35 by means of mounting screw 24 passing through the helical loops 34 and 23 of members 30 and 20 respectively. The helical loops 34 and 23 when compressed act as locking means for the screw 24 and prevent loosening of same by vibration. Since spring portions 21 and 31 are wound in opposite directions, resistor R is prohibited from turning about its longitudinal axis and the possibility of the terminals grounding or short-circuiting With other parts is eliminated. The action of the spring portions in preventing rotation of the resistor Was fully explained in regard to Fig. 2 and repetition here is not deemed necessary.

My invention may be used to mount hollow tubular members of various sizes and shapes on many diiierent types of mounting surfaces. This and many other variations of the illustrated embodiments of my invention are possible, and will be readily recognized by those skilled in the art, and therefore the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative only, and the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claim.

Having now particularly described my invention, What I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States and What I claim is:

The combination with a tubular member having an axial bore with a given diameter, of a first mounting member and a second mounting member, each said mounting member comprising a spring having a plurality of coils extending into said bore from the same end thereof, each of said coils of each said mounting member being radially compressed throughout the periphery thereof by the internal Wall of said bore, said coils of said first mounting member and said coils of said second mounting memher being wound in opposite directions whereby said coils of said first mounting member and of said second mounting member prevent rotation of said tubular memher With respect to each said mounting member, and means for mounting each said mounting member to a surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 117,733 Black Aug. 8, 1871 643,229 Michael Feb. 13, 1900 725,426 Eccleston Apr. 14, 1903 1,671,904 Kirkham May 29, 1928 1,792,611 Staaf Feb. 17, 1931 1,861,532 Hough June 7, 1932 2,051,480 Hoge Aug. 18, 1936 2,095,918 Cave Oct. 12, 1937 2,151,799 Richter Mar. 28, 1939 2,706,611 Kimball Apr. 19, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 416,055 Germany July 9, 1925 937,209 France Aug. 11, 1948 

